Council tenants to get £1,000 a year DIY budget

Graham_Devon

Council tenants will soon be getting a £1,000 a year DIY budget.

The tenants will each have an account with a manager. They will be able to carry out neccesary repairs from this budget, and keep any money they save.

Questions were asked, and obviously council tenants thought this was a great idea, with one tenant already flicking through brochures for a new shower as the council wouldn't supply one.

The system will be based on receipts. So one council tenant asked what was to stop him going and buying a variety of goods from B&Q, sending the receipts in, and then placing the items on ebay.

Lots of "errr, erm, right, errm".

The average repair bills for all houses works out around £1,000. However, under this scheme, larger bills won't be included and paid for seperately. Therefore, hasn't this just put the budget for repairs up a fair bit?

I thought these sorts of ideas came from the labour camp. Unfortunately...this comes from Grant Shapps I believe.

chucky

i thought that we didn't have any money?

well that's what Osborne says anyway.

Jowo_2

There's a bit of debate here

http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/housing-management/tenants-to-get-repairs-cash/6514406.article

Example comment

" This potentially is very dangerous do residents understand compliance with building regulations? This potentially could be an accident waiting to happen. Residents messing with repairs, gas electric etc can potentially put other residents and occupants at risk."


What I note from the article is that it says "The Government believes the scheme will not only save money but could also promote greater self reliance and responsibility amongst tenants for maintaining their homes."

When the govt bought in the concept of 'empowerment' and 'taking responsibility' into the housing benefit system, they made the LHA payable directly to the tenant and it has spectacularly backfired with a huge increase in arrears and even less private landlords willing to rent their properties to claimants.

The social housing allocation system currently gives the tenants discretion over whether they wanted to downsize properties when their household numbers shrank and few bother. Now they are trying to put pressure on under occupied homes by slightly reducing the HB payable...

Kohoutek

Graham_Devon wrote: »

I thought these sorts of ideas came from the labour camp.

Why? Do you think Labour have a monopoly on stupid ideas that won't work in practice?

It fits both the "Big Society" and deregulation agenda. I guess the idea is that it will empower tenants to carry out repairs themselves rather than relying on local authorities.

They also claim it will also help save money:

It is believed 20 per cent (£800million) of the annual repairs budget will be saved, which will be shared between tenants and councils to spend as they wish.

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/860194-council-tenants-to-be-given-cash-to-carry-out-their-own-repairs

lostinrates

Why not keep rent at a sensible rate and make new leases maintaining leases?

Jowo_2

lostinrates wrote: »

Why not keep rent at a sensible rate and make new leases maintaining leases?

If you are saying that the responsibility for DIY should be given to the tenants by way of a new contract? Not sure if that's what you mean but

1. Housing law makes landlords responsible for repairs and can't be over-ruled by the contract
2. Secure tenants can't be made to sign a new contract

I don't know the specifics for social housing tenants, but there are cases raised in housing law that make (private, I assume) tenants responsible for very basic household duties like changing light bulbs and fuses, tightening loose screws, unblocking sinks when it is blocked by food, etc.

But as I've said, I don't know the housing law for social tenants and their basic DIY obligations.

bengalknights

chucky wrote: »

i thought that we didn't have any money?

well that's what Osborne says anyway.

But Osbourne isnt in charge of councils only central government.

Council budgets and the council tax is outside his remit.

ILW

I seem to recall seeing a documentary some time ago about the oringinal council housing in the 40s and 50s. It was in the agreement that the tenant had to keep the place in presentable condition, including gardens etc. and failure to do so could lead to eviction. I can see great advantages in enforcing such terms again.

JOHNNY_LOVES_JAZZ

ILW wrote: »

I seem to recall seeing a documentary some time ago about the oringinal council housing in the 40s and 50s. It was in the agreement that the tenant had to keep the place in presentable condition, including gardens etc. and failure to do so could lead to eviction. I can see great advantages in enforcing such terms again.

I was under the impression that those terms still applied to council tenants.
Anyway I think the scheme is madness personally and will be open to abuse.

ninky_2

Graham_Devon wrote: »

I thought these sorts of ideas came from the labour camp. Unfortunately...this comes from Grant Shapps I believe.

why? the conservatives have a long tradition of handing out freebies to those in council housing - starting off with selling them the house at well below market value.

ILW

JOHNNY_LOVES_JAZZ wrote: »

I was under the impression that those terms still applied to council tenants.
Anyway I think the scheme is madness personally and will be open to abuse.

It is obviously not being enforced judging by the state of some places on council estates.